NEW YORK – When the Mets reported to spring training way back in early February, the projected outfield was one with platoons in center field and right field to combat any mismatches for an underwhelming group.

But within days, manager Terry Collins dismissed a platoon in right field and named Marlon Byrd the starter. And by the end of the team’s time in Port St. Lucie, Fla., Collins named Collin Cowgill his everyday center fielder.

Fast-forward one week and the picture isn’t quite as clear. For the second straight day, Cowgill didn’t start in center field against the Miami Marlins. Instead, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, initially expected to have a role mostly limited to a late-inning defensive replacement, started on Saturday.

In left field, Mike Baxter got the start and led off. And he delivered. Baxter went 1-for-3 with two walks, stole a base and scored two runs in the Mets’ 7-3 win.

"If he was a genuine base stealer, he’d be dangerous because you look up and he’s got a .375 on-base (average)," manager Terry Collin said. "And he seems like he’s at first base all the time."

Nieuwenhuis, also starting for the first time this season, went 0-for-4 and stranded three runners.

• Ruben Tejada committed his fourth error in five games yesterday when his throw to first base to complete a 4-6-3 double play was low and Ike Davis failed to pick it.

Daniel Murphy said his flip to Tejada handcuffed the shortstop, but the error total remains a red flag for the Mets. Tejada had just 12 errors in 456 chances last season.

"Everybody goes through it," third baseman and captain David Wright said. "It’s tough to go through it the first homestand, but I think he’s a Gold Glove-caliber shortstop.

"I think, especially for a younger player, you start bringing defense to the plate or the plate to defense and there needs to be that separation."

• Davis snapped a 1-for-16 skid to start the season with two hits and a walk in four plate appearances. Davis is familiar with slow starts after a horrid beginning last season, but he credited opposing pitchers for their pinpoint control in working around him. Davis believes he just hasn’t seen many pitches to drive.

Both transactions were made to vacate spots on the 25-man active roster and the 40-man roster for Aaron Laffey, who will be promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas to start Sunday’s game against the Marlins in the finale of the series and homestand.